Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci was behind the wheel of the car used in a gang-related drive-by shooting that left one of his passengers dead last month in southwest Atlanta, according to an arrest warrant obtained Thursday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The rapper, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett, turned himself in Wednesday evening, one day after police announced he was wanted on a murder charge stemming from the Dec. 10 shooting.
According to his arrest warrant, Bennett and “three other criminal street gang members” drove to an area dominated by a rival gang before two people in the car opened fire with assault-style rifles. One of those men, 28-year-old James Adams, was struck in the head by return gunfire and later died, authorities said.
Prior to the shooting, Adams reportedly said, “We’re fitting to (expletive) this city up, man!” in a video recording later obtained by investigators.
The warrant alleges Bennett drove to the 900 block of Dimmock Street about 5:15 p.m. that day before pulling onto a shoulder. Adams and 23-year-old Ra’von Boyd, who was seated in the front seat, then opened fire, authorities said.
A 32-year-old victim was struck in the abdomen during the shooting, but survived his injuries. He later showed up at a nearby fire station seeking medical assistance, Atlanta police said previously.
Adams, who was shot in the head during the exchange of gunfire, was “manually ejected” from the car and left in a nearby street, according to the arrest warrant. Police found him lying in the road when they responded to the shooting.
According to the incident report, officers found multiple shell casings at the scene and the 32-year-old victim at Fire Station 14, the AJC previously reported.
Boyd, one of the alleged shooters in Bennett’s car, was recently arrested in Miami along with 17-year-old Leroy Pitts, police said. It’s unclear what role the teen is accused of playing in the shooting.
Bennett, a 29-year-old graduate of Atlanta’s Crim High School, surrendered to authorities Wednesday night — but not before releasing his latest music video on his Twitter and Instagram pages.
He faces four charges in connection with the shooting, including murder, aggravated assault, participating in criminal street gang activity and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The rapper, best known for his songs “Key to the Streets” and “Everyday We Lit,” appeared virtually at his first-appearance hearing Thursday in Fulton County Magistrate Court.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
“Our review of the initial evidence made available to us indicates there is no basis for any criminal charges against Rayshawn Bennett,” his attorney, Drew Findling, told the AJC. “We will continue our own independent investigation on his behalf.”
Bennett remains held at the Fulton County Jail without bond, online records show.
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